6 Broadcaster Press March 24, 2020 www.broadcasteronline.com Salute to Agriculture Thank A Farmer Today! The Role of Tech in Agriculture Modern industry is driven by technology. Advancements in technology have changed how business is conducted, with some industries undergoing dramatic changes since the dawn of the 21st century. While agriculture might not be the first industry people think of when reflecting on the changing nature of industry, The National Institute of Food and Agriculture notes that modern farms are vastly different than those from a few decades ago. Farmers have long relied on technology to make their operations as efficient, productive and profitable as possible. Precision agriculture, which refers to technological advances designed to propel agriculture into the modern, computerized and information-based world, is helping the agricultural sector become more profitable and efficient while also improving safety and making agriculture more eco-friendly. In addition, the NIFA notes that the modern agricultural industry employs technology such as robots, temperature and moisture sensors, aerial images, and global positioning systems. If it sounds complicated, that’s because it is. For example, modern sensors can detect soil conditions, potentially producing hundreds of readings per second. These sensors help farmers know the best possible time to plant seeds so they can reach their full potential. That improves both the efficiency of modern farms as well as their output. The NIFA also notes that agricultural technology has reduced waste. For instance, thanks to agricultural Family Farms technology, farmers no longer have to apply water, fertilizers and pesticides uniformly across entire fields. Technology has shown that farmers can simply target specific areas or even treat individual plants differently. That saves time and allows farmers to use only minimal quantities of water, fertilizer and pesticides. In addition, according to the NIFA, employing agricultural technology in this fashion leads to higher crop productivity and reduces runoff of chemicals into rivers and groundwater, thereby reducing the farm’s impact on local ecosystems. Modern farms are technological marvels where various technologies are being employed to produce crops more efficiently and safely than ever before. ?MetroCreativeConnection Beef is a Nutrition Powerhouse Lean beef is a nutrition powerhouse. It is a naturally nutrient-rich food providing 10 essential nutrients with only about 150 calories per 3-ounce serving. Lean beef packs more nutrients per bite with fewer calories, so it’s easier on the waistline than empty-calorie foods. Meeting the new 20152020 Dietary Guidelines and MyPlate recommendations, lean beef is a great addition to a plate full of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Here are just a few of the many “hidden” nutrients in lean beef, along with the multiple body benefits they provide: Protein: A 3-ounce serving of beef provides 25 grams of protein which is about 50% of your recommended Daily Value (DV). It plays a major role in muscle maintenance, weight management and prevention of chronic diseases. Selenium: As an excellent source of selenium, one 3-ounce serving of beef provides 40 percent of your daily needs. It provides antioxidant benefits, as well as enhancing the body’s ability to fight infections. Choline: As an essential nutrient for humans, choline plays a vital role in cognition and long- and short-term memory functions. Beef provides 16 percent of the DV for choline. Zinc: Beef provides 36 percent of the DV for zinc. Zinc is essential for proper growth and health and also plays a key role in building muscles and healing wounds. Iron: Iron helps carry oxygen in the blood to all cells and muscles to prevent fatigue. To get the same amount of iron in a 3-ounce serving of beef, you would need to eat an equivalent of three cups of raw spinach! We Proudly Support National Agriculture Week and National Ag Day! Vitamin B12: Essential for proper brain and nervous system function, vitamin B12 is only naturally available from animal foods. Beef is an excellent source, providing 44 percent of the DV. Besides tasting great, you can feel good about loving beef. Lean beef provides a simple and delicious way to meet the daily recommendations of several nutrients. It gives you the power to feel full longer, stay active longer and manage your weight. It’s a great feeling to know that the food you crave is good for you too. For more information and beef recipes, check out the South Dakota Beef Council. In addition, see UNL Extension’s Easy Ground Beef Recipes From Your Freezer for quick, healthy meals in a hurry. • 98% of farms in South Dakota are family owned and operated – in fact, over 2,500 South Dakota farms have been in the same family for more than 100 years. • The average size of a farm in South Dakota is 1,374 acres. • The average age of a South Dakota farmer is 55.7 years. • There are 46,000 producers in South Dakota on 31,800 farms. • Each year, one South Dakota producer raises enough food to feed 155 people in the U.S. and abroad. • South Dakota producers are first in the nation in planting genetically engineered varieties of corn (95%) and soybeans (98%). • There are 15 ethanol plants operating in the state and they produce more than 1 billion gallons per year, which is 10% of the nation’s ethanol supply. • South Dakota wineries have produced over 2.3 million bottles of wine since 1997. *Data courtesy of USDA NASS, SD Corn, USDA NRCS, SDSU, SD DOR and SDDA. Facts about Raising Beef • Average age of a beef cattle rancher is 58. • Of the 727,906 beef farms and ranches, 91% are family-owned or individually-operated. • 11% are operated by women. • The average beef cow herd size is 40 head of cattle. • There’s a app for that! Modern-day ranchers use all kinds of technology from drones to apps to help maintain a healthy herd. 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